Dead man elected to Wisconsin village board

POYNETTE, Wis. — A village board member who died of a heart attack on Sunday defeated a living opponent and was re-elected Tuesday.

In a four-way race for three seats on the village board, Gary Guitzkow finished third with 188 votes. That was 66 more votes than incumbent David Branish who was defeated.

It appears many people in the village about 30 miles north of Madison voted for him as a tribute, Village Clerk Sue Finstad said today. Several voters asked her what would happen if they voted for him even though he had died three days earlier, she said.

The board will meet next month to appoint Guitzkow's replacement to serve his two-year term, Finstad said.

Guitzkow, 45, had been on the board for one year and worked as the University of Wisconsin power plant manager.

Another dead man was on the ballot for village board in Rochester, which is in Racine County. Dean Stapleton, 58, died on election day from cancer. He had been on the board for eight years and was one of 12 candidates running for six spots on a new consolidated board.

Stapleton got 272 votes and finished 11th, according to results posted by the county.